Boca Juniors vs River Plate: H2H, Superclasico Rivalry, Watch Live & More
Many people believe the Boca Juniors vs River Plate Superclasico football rivalry is the biggest derby game in the world.
The two clubs have produced some of the finest players ever to grace the sport including Alfredo di Stefano, Diego Maradona and many more.
We take a closer look at Boca Juniors vs River Plate including the H2H (stats correct – April 12, 2023), how to watch the Primera Division live, the history of the Superclasico derby and more.
Boca Juniors vs River Plate H2H
The two teams have played 262 official matches against each other, with Boca leading the all-time H2H record 92-86 and the other 84 games finishing as draws.
Boca are also ahead of their rivals in the silverware stakes, winning 74 official titles against the 72 claimed by River Plate.
Notable Boca Juniors vs River Plate Results
- River Plate 5-3 Boca Juniors – Primera Division – November 1957
- River Plate 5-4 Boca Juniors – Primera Division – October 1972
- Boca Juniors 5-2 River Plate – Primera Division – June 1973
- Boca Juniors 5-2 River Plate – Primera Division – February 1974
- Boca Juniors 2-5 – River Plate – Primera Division – March 1980
- Boca Juniors 4-3 River Plate – Copa Libertadores – February 1991
- River Plate 3-1 Boca Juniors – Copa Libertadores – December 2018
- River Plate 2-4 Boca Juniors – Primera Division – December 2016
Boca Juniors vs River Plate Live Streams
Paramount+ is the best place to watch Primera Division matches, with live streams available to subscribers on a wide range of platforms.
There are loads of other streaming services that cover live games from Argentina, but you will need to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology to gain access.
One of the best services is Express VPN, which can be downloaded to various devices including Android, iOS, Fire TV, PC, Mac and smart televisions.
Superclasico History
Boca Juniors and River Plate are Argentina’s biggest football clubs – a factor which immediately sets them against each other.
However, the rivalry is primarily territorial and societal, with the two sides both located within the city of Buenos Aires.
They were each formed in an area called the La Boca before River Plate moved to the affluent Nunez neighbourhood in 1925.
They became known as the ‘millionaires’ from that point, while Boca retained their working-class status and links to the local Italian immigrant community.
In essence, the rivalry is a symbolic battle between the rich and poor and one which generates angst like very few other derby games in the world.
While the rivalry is fuelled by the overly passionate sets of fans, there is also little love lost between the respective players whenever they meet.
River fans refer to their rivals as ‘little pigs’ – a slur based on their belief that the area around Boca’s stadium smells of manure.
Hooliganism is a regular feature of Superclasico derbies, with both sets of fans willing to engage violently inside and outside their stadiums.
With the two teams regularly competing for honours in the modern era, it is little wonder the Boca vs River rivalry is one of the most bitter in professional football.
Boca Juniors vs River Plate Controversies
Given the toxic nature of the Boca vs River rivalry, there have inevitably been a plethora of controversies since the teams first played each other.
Their meeting in June 1968 was a notable low point, with 71 fans killed in a crush at the El Monumental stadium and another 150 injured in the mayhem.
Each club blamed the other, while the police’s handling of the incident was also called into question.
A three-year government investigation found no one guilty, much to the bitter disappointment of the victims’ families.
A Copa Libertadores clash in May 2015 was also hugely controversial, with Boca expelled from the tournament after a bizarre incident at half-time.
The game was suspended after River players appeared to be sprayed with an irritant upon entering the pitch after the break.
Boca were thrown out of the competition and ordered to play four games behind closed doors.
The second leg of the 2018 Copa Libertadores Finals was another clash mired in controversy, with River fans attacking Boca’s team bus on the way to the stadium.
Several players were injured due to broken glass and pepper spray, and the match was eventually switched to the Bernabeu Stadium in Spain.
River won the game 3-1 after extra time to seal a 5-3 aggregate win, but Boca maintain they were cheated out of the victory.
More Football Resources
